If you’re feeling desperate and lack of paths to guide you, you need to rest for a moment and take a deep breath. Here are moments from the football world that could inspire you.
1. 2010 – Jabulani Ball; Spain Won the World Cup (Image : https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/world-cup-2014/the-2010-south-africa-world-cup-highlights-politics-lessons-for-brazil/spain-world-cup-champions/)
Despite the surrounding controversy of the Jabulani ball, you could say the goal scored by the Maestro of Midfield, Andres Iniesta, came from the belief shared by every Spain national player on the field at that time, and their connectivity in linking up play in the last moment, made them the winners of the World Cup.
=> It gives us a picture that challenges may come, but our teamwork and hard work can overcome them.
2. 2012 – Chelsea being underestimated, yet they win their first UCL trophy (Image : https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2020/5/19/21263654/revisiting-the-legendary-2012-champions-league-victory-paulo-ferreira-john-obi-mikel-bayern-munich)
Well, playing in Allianz Arena, the home of the finalist that became their enemy, “The Bavarian”. Of course, Bayern is favored, especially since they played in their home ground. But reality became different, and Chelsea finally won the match and won their first UCL trophy (It’s undeniable the moment that Drogba scores the last penalty kick, it was E.P.I.C!!!, I’m sorry Toni Kroos for this one).
=> With this moment, we can learn that even though everyone doesn’t give us support, make us unfavorable, but if we believe in ourselves more than anything, it could drive out the result and make everyone shock, even ourselves, because we can show ourselves that we’re capable of doing something.
3. 2016 – Leicester City won the Premier League; The Foxes came from nowhere, grabbed the prestigious title in the land of the Lions (Image : https://www.bola.net/inggris/mengingat-lagi-5-pemain-kunci-leicester-city-saat-juara-premier-league-2015-2016-78b286.html)
No one knew Leicester, especially their players at that time, like Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, or even N’Golo Kante, until they broke the expectations of audiences, playing every match like they’re not feeling pressure, even when they’re not favored, until they won the Premier League in 2016. It’s a magical moment to live alongside this moment.
=> Leicester City gives us a teachable thing, don’t underestimate somebody even when they’re unknown, they might suddenly become a surprise-able thing that makes you regret what you’re thinking.
4. 2019 – Liverpool’s comeback at Anfield, and the rest was history (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11713953/liverpool-4-0-barcelona-agg-4-3-liverpool-complete-stunning-comeback-to-reach-champions-league-final)
No one, literally no one, predicted Liverpool would do the comeback after being defeated in 1st leg of the semifinal from Barcelona. They just flipped the prediction, “CORNER TAKEN QUICKLY… ORIGI!!!” and boom, they went through to the final and won their 6th Champions League trophy in 2019.
=> When someone thinks that you’re already being smashed down, use that trick to camouflage yourself, prepare yourself with the best you can, and give them a heart attack so they might lose their focus, and you can take over the condition in your favor.
5. 2022 – Messi (finally) won the World Cup (https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/18/lionel-messi-argentina-win-a-world-cup-championship/)
December 2022, Argentina VS. France, Messi VS. Mbappe, two of the biggest names in the big stages, fight for the last treasure. Messi hunted his 1st, Mbappe for the 2nd trophy. The tension of the match was really high, which meant the match had to be decided by penalty shoot-out (moment when Martinez saved the ball from Kolo Muani, it’s muachhh…. Perfect!). Argentina finally won and Messi lifted his 1st World Cup trophy.
=> There’s no debate between Ronaldo and Messi, for myself, they’re the best as they give so much motivation. But, from this Messi side, we can learn that when we really don’t give up, time will pay back the price that we’ve already spent. Literally, if he really decided to retire from Argentina in 2016, maybe he and Argentina couldn’t feel the trophy in 2022, and the history we know would be different.
6. 2025 – Dembélé (Dembélé?????) WON the BALLON D’OR (https://rri.co.id/sepak-bola/1851385/penghargaan-ballon-d-or-2025-resmi-milik-ousmane-dembele)
“The Tin Man”, “The Bone-Glass”, it’s the nickname we might attached to Ousmane Dembélé as 799 days between 2017-2023 when he’s still a Barcelona player, he’s often struggling with his injury. Yet everything changed when he was transferred to Paris Saint-Germain. He went back to his country, and it transformed him into one of the sharpest wingers in the world. Under Enrique’s method, he’s became trusted in the PSG starting line-up. Even developed more after Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid, became one of the deadliest wingers alongside Désiré Doué. In the 2024-25 season, he helped his team to become quadruple winners, as PSG won Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and Champions League (PSG’s 1st-ever UCL title). In the opening 2025-26 season, he helped his team won the UEFA Super Cup trophy. With that performance he displayed, he was crowned as the best player and got the Ballon d’Or a couple days ago (from the moment this writing is released).
=> From his journey, we can learn that we might face problem that we don’t want or even know it, but it has to be face by us to made us getting better, stronger, wiser and someday when we’re ready, the universe will lift you as you’re being seen that you’re ready to receive big things and bigger prices than before.
* Even I dedicate myself to write a tribute for him : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antonius-christian-462b06134_tribute-to-ousmane-demb%C3%A9le-siapa-tak-kenal-activity-7376256960360296448-NlIp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACDpbwoB_BCCgJXc5tJtnGgHuvm4yWvZdRw
From this story, we could agree that every step needs a price that we have to pay, we have to experience, so we can go through stronger. Even when there’s a moment no one knows who we are, there’s the moment exactly that we can develop ourselves even more.
Hope you’re getting stronger and get insight after reading this one.
Stay strong,
Antonius
Anton's Blog 
Leave a comment